With the Queensland State Election officially starting, peak environment group the Queensland Conservation Council is reminding the state’s political parties that Queensland’s natural values and special places need to be front and centre of policy commitments

“Queensland is a great state, but it’s not in great shape when it comes to environmental conditions, or addressing key threats to our wildlife and natural places.

“Our amazing land, freshwater and ocean environments and the incredible wildlife that live in them are what makes Queensland such a great place in which to live, work and play.

“But we should not take these for granted, and assume that without special care they will do thrive, or in some cases, even survive.

“Right now, Queensland is in the midst of an environmental crisis from land clearing. Every second in Queensland, a tree is bulldozed and a native animal dies as a consequence of land clearing. This has to stop.

“We also need to see extensions to our protected areas, specific safeguards for the habitats of threatened species, stronger environmental laws for lands and rivers, and action on climate change.

“Out wildlife and natural habitats are under immense pressures from land clearing, weak environmental laws, destructive mines and the effects of global warming.

“Jobs and economic growth are very important, but we should be utilising our environmental assets and our nature-based opportunities to build a truly sustainable future for Queensland.

“The challenge to our political parties is to commit to policies and plans which help protect nature and keep our landscapes intact, address land clearing, and ensure we do not risk losing iconic species such as the koala or iconic places such as the Great Barrier Reef.

“The renewable energy revolution that is now rolling out in Queensland at both large-scale project and household levels needs to be supported and assisted.

“We also need to see strong commitments to broader climate change policy, transformation of the economy, and a shift away from fossil fuels for power and revenue, and state government support for them, towards a clean energy and economic future.”

The Queensland Conservation Council will be writing formally to all the main political parties, seeking responses to a set of priority conservation policies developed by the peak body. This will inform an assessment of how each party proposes to ensure protection of the environment into the future.